Bucs & Rox Open, J-Grove v Freeland, Lineup & Notes - Hechavarria To Join Club

Today: The game starts at 8:40 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (4-5, 3.63) opens against LHP Kyle Freeland (9-7, 3.20). Joe's last start was excellent, but he dropped a 1-0 decision to Zack Wheeler. J-Grove should provide a respite for the pen as he's gone at least seven innings in three straight starts and in four of his last five. This is his first outing against the Rockies. Freeland is on a roll; he's given up three or more runs just twice in his last nine outings. He can be wild; he's a guy that requires some plate patience and discipline. The Bucs chased him in the fifth during with six hits and five runs an April outing, taking a 10-2 win.

J-Grove tries to get the Bucs back on track (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Corey Dickerson LF, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli 1B, Elias Diaz C, Josh Harrison 2B, Jordy SS & Musgrove P. Clint has the luxury of Corey D hitting lefties well (.310), and if he wanted to swap Gregory's power for an on-base guy, Fraze is hitting same-siders at a .286 clip, so the lefty-slanted outfield isn't much of a prob when southpaws climb the hill. Glad to see Cervy at first; he's been good with the mitt and it should help to get him a few more swings.

Notes:

• The Pirates have picked up IF Adeiny Hechavarria and cash from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHP Matt Seelinger. Hechavarria is a good-glove SS who the Pirates see as middle infield depth and is batting .258; he cleared August waivers. Seelinger is a 23-year-old reliever who slashed 1-3-7/3.03 for WV in the Low-A Sally League. Hechy is expected to join the team tomorrow, so no roster moves until then.
• The Rockies will be glad to get home to Coors Field; they just went 2-5 on their short road trip. Colorado took 2-of-3 in April from the Pirates at PNC Park.
• RJ Anderson of CBS Sports wonders if Uncle Ray has already changed Chris Archer's pitch mix.
• Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports talked to Cutch to get his thoughts on the Bucs deadline moves, the kind of proactive deals they never made when he was with the club. 

• The Pirates switched sports after losing yesterday...nah, just had an NBA themed trip to Colorado (photo United Airlines via Pittsburgh Pirates)